Grouping the Traits
Ratings for many of the traits in the list are correlated with ratings for many others in the list, suggesting that much the same quality is being measured. Selflessness and empathy, for example are strongly correlated (r = .462, p = .000), as are people skills and communication skills (r = .468, p = .000). Many examples could be given. In this kind of situation it can be useful to collapse a long list of traits into a shorter list, by grouping those that are strongly associated with each other. Elements that are common to the traits in a group can then be more easily seen. Table 6 shows what we found when this was done. We’ve given the trait groups descriptive labels to suggest the underlying leadership themes the traits in the groups seem to embody.
| Table 6. Groups of Leadership Traits | ||
| Trait Group | Key Traits | Secondary Traits |
| Group 1: ‘Can-do Spirit’ | Optimistic attitude, Results orientation, Team orientation, Work ethic, Action orientation | Self-discipline, Honesty/integrity |
| Group 2: ‘Connection with People’ | Empathy, Selflessness, Generosity, People skills | Communication skills, Open-mindedness |
| Group 3: ‘Missionary Zeal’ | Passion, Takes risks, Creativity, Vision | Action orientation, Inspirational/motivational |
| Group 4: ‘Intellectual Firepower’ | Intelligence, Superior judgment | Self-discipline, Open-mindedness |
| Group 5: ‘Attraction’ | Physical attractiveness, Charisma | Inspirational/motivational |
| Source: EPIC _ MRA. | ||
The traits in Group 1 describe a leader as someone who gets things done, conveys his or her own enthusiasm and commitment for the task, and gets others to sign on. The traits in Group 2 describe a leader as someone who connects with people, is sensitive to their needs and open to their input, and gives others credit without seeking it for him- or herself. The traits in Group 3 describe a leader as someone who sees what others don’t or imagine a different way things can be, and gets people to work toward goals they might not have conceptualized by themselves. The traits in Group 4 describe a leader as someone who has superior intellectual capability and sees the world clearly for what it is. The traits in Group 5 describe a leader as someone who has physical attractiveness and personal magnetism.
